Discover 5 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Elmina (Ghana). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Elmina Castle, Fort Coenraadsburg, and Dutch Cemetery. Also, be sure to include St. Joseph's Minor Basilica Church in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Elmina (Central).
Table of Contents
Elmina Castle
Landmark slave trading post and museum. Elmina Castle was erected by the Portuguese in 1482 as Castelo de São Jorge da Mina, also known as Castelo da Mina or simply Mina, in present-day Elmina, Ghana. It was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea, and the oldest European building in existence south of the Sahara. First established as a trade settlement, the castle later became one of the most important stops on the route of the Atlantic slave trade. The Dutch seized the fort from the Portuguese in 1637, after an unsuccessful attempt in 1596, and took over all of the Portuguese Gold Coast in 1642. The slave trade continued under the Dutch until 1814. In 1872, the Dutch Gold Coast, including the fort, became a possession of Great Britain.
The Gold Coast, which is now Ghana, gained its independence in 1957 from Britain, and had control of the castle. Elmina Castle is a historical site, and was a major filming location for Werner Herzog's 1987 drama film Cobra Verde. The castle is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is also a major tourists attraction in the central region of Ghana.[1]
Address: Liverpool Rd, Elmina
Fort Coenraadsburg
Event venue in Elmina, Ghana. Fort Coenraadsburg or Conraadsburg, also Fort São Tiago da Mina, is a small Portuguese chapel built in honor of Saint Jago and it is situated opposite the Elmina Castle in the Central region of Ghana, to protect Fort Elmina from attacks.[2]
Dutch Cemetery
Cemetery. The Dutch Cemetery of Elmina was constructed on the order of Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast Johannes Petrus Hoogenboom in 1806. Up until that date, the Dutch had buried their dead inside or just outside Elmina Castle, but by the beginning of the 19th century, little space was left there, so it was decided to construct a new cemetery in what was known as "the Garden" of Elmina. Ironically, Governor Hoogenboom was also one of the first people to be interred in the cemetery, after he was murdered by local Elminese people with whom he had a disagreement.[3]
St. Joseph's Minor Basilica Church
Church building in Elmina, Ghana. St. Joseph's Minor Basilica Church is a Roman Catholic Church building in Elmina, in the Central Region of Ghana. Established in 1880, it was the first Roman Catholic church to have been established in Ghana. It was founded by and, the first Dutch Catholic priests to minister to the Ghanaians. Their busts are fixed on either side of the front door.[4]
Elmina Java Museum
Museum in Elmina, Ghana. The Elmina Java Museum is a museum in Elmina, Ghana, dedicated to the history of the so-called Belanda Hitam; soldiers recruited in the 19th century in the Dutch Gold Coast to serve in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. The museum is funded by the Edward A. Ulzen Memorial Foundation.[5]